The 1989 Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, Prof. Thomas R. Cechfrom the BioFrontiers Institute, USAhas published a research paper in the 13 December 2012 issue of the Nature journal(492(7428):285-9; and I.F: >42) stating that “The TEL patch of telomere protein TPP1 mediates telomerase recruitment and processivity.”This study provides mechanistic insights into how TPP1 regulates telomerase function.

What we say:

In connection with this finding, Dr Boominathan, Founder Director-cum-chief scientist of GBMD, reports, for the first time, that:Anti-telomerase cancer therapy: USF-1 (Upstream Transcription Factor 1) suppresses the expression of Tripeptidyl Peptidase 1 (TPP1) and inhibits cancer progression via down-regulation of it target gene

Significance of the study:

Given that: (1) over 90% human tumors overexpress immortality gene telomerase; and (2) cancer causes the highest economic loss compared to all the known causes of death worldwide,there is an urgent need to find:(i) a way to inhibit telomerase activity in human tumors; (ii) a way to increase the efficacy of anticancer therapy; (iii) a cheaper alternative to the existing expensive drugs; (iv) a side-effect-free natural product-based drug; (v) a way to effectively treat cancers that are resistant to anticancer drugs; (vi) a way to prevent tumor recurrence; and (vii) a way to effectively treat and eradicate metastatic progression of cancer.

From Research Findings to Therapeutic opportunity:

This study suggests that USF-1, by regulating the expression of its downstream target genes (fig. 1), it may suppress the expression of Tripeptidyl Peptidase 1 (TPP1) and Telomerase (Fig 1). Remarkably, over 90% of the human tumors overexpress the cellular immortality gene telomerase, suggesting that inhibition of its activity may increase the efficacy of anticancer therapy.

Taken together, pharmacological formulations encompassing “USF-1 activators or their analogues, either alone or in combination with other anticancer drugs“may be considered to treat human cancers that specifically overexpress the cellular immortality gene telomerase.